DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- The enactment of Republic Act No. 11215, or the National Integrated Cancer Control Act (NICCA) in 2019, commonly known as Cancer Law, marked a significant step in combating cancer in the country.

Since then, the government has been working tirelessly in partnership with various medical stakeholders to achieve “a free-cancer Philippines.”

During the celebration of the 5th anniversary of NICCA in Davao City, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Dr. Enrique Tayag highlighted the proactive and strategic response that the government and medical communities have undertaken to combat cancer, which is a major public health concern in the country.

Speaking before the members of the National Integrated Cancer Control Council (NICCC), government officials and various medical stakeholders, Tayag reaffirmed the continuous support of the DOH in advancing policies, programs, and standards in cancer prevention and control.

to all cancer patients and vulnerable individuals and developing policies, programs, and standards in cancer prevention and control.

In the State of Cancer Control Address (SOCCA) delivered by Dr. Jan Aura Laurelle Llevado, DOH cancer control division chief, it was  highlighted that despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, they have seen an improvement in vaccination as cancer prevention, evident in the increased number of vaccinated children since 2019.

She said that 1.98 million children had been vaccinated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as prevention for cervical cancer since 2015, and around 1.17 million infants were vaccinated with the hepatitis vaccine in 2023 as prevention for liver cancer.

Llevado attributed the improved vaccination systems to the streamlining of health promotion activities of the DOH and medical societies across the country in partnership with various civil society organizations.

She also reported that DOH has developed clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), an integrated primary care guidance and standard for cancer care, and financing for different types of cancer with the help of various cancer specialty centers in the country.

Currently, DOH has 14 approved CPGs, which are currently implemented in all medical centers and hospitals across the country.

Llevado emphasized that they have strengthened cancer testing and screening by utilizing modern technologies.

For instance, she said that they have launched the SUCCESS Project in partnership with Jhpiego Philippines and have screened a total of 570,333 women for cervical cancer through visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and pap smears since 2019.

therapeutic procedures, and augmentation of cancer medicines, they expanded the coverage in 2023 to include prevention, screening, and diagnostics for high-risk individuals and other support services.

“In 2023, we expanded the guidelines with the Department of Budget and Management to include those who are not yet diagnosed with cancer, kasi bago pa sila ma-diagnose ng cancer, malaki na ang ginagastos ng mga patients na to,” Llevado explained.

[Before these patients are diagnosed with cancer, they are already spending a lot.]

At present, there are a total of CAF access sites nationwide, mostly found in specialty centers across the country, she said.

In terms of expanded access to cancer medicines and critical treatment support, Llevado noted an increasing number of cancer patients who have access to free medicines.

Llevado said that they had facilitated the construction of the Philippine Cancer Center (PCC), which will serve as the national specialty center for cancer care in the country.

The PCC has allotted P29 million to support the operations of all cancer specialty centers in the country.

They had also formed a price negotiation board with the Department of Trade and Industry to make cancer medicines that were single-sourced, accessible and affordable.

The Population-based Cancer Registry (PBCR) was established in 2022 and is currently assisting some medical centers.

In spite of the significant milestones of the cancer law in the last five years, Llevado still believed that “there is so much work that needs to be done to fulfill the NICCA.”

She said that the DOH, with its stakeholders, will continue to work to achieve “a free-cancer Philippines.” (ASO/PIA Davao)